Exercise apparatuses and methods for using same

ABSTRACT

An exercise apparatus includes a knee receiving unit comprising a stationary base, a rigid platform rotatable about the stationary base about an axis, at least one compliant member on a top surface of the rigid platform, the at least one compliant member including knee receiving portions. The knee receiving portions may be located on substantially diametrically opposite sides of the axis. The exercise apparatus may further include a hand grip unit. In a method for using such an exercise apparatus, a user positions both knees on the knee receiving portions, grips the hand grip unit and rotates the rigid platform relative to the stationary base.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to exercise apparatuses and methods for using the same. The exercise of abdominal muscles is a particular target of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Exercise apparatuses have been developed and used throughout much of the modern era in an effort to improve users' physiques and physical and mental health. Abdominal muscles have long been the target of such apparatuses for many reasons, including health related concerns.

Exercise apparatuses targeting the abdominal muscles have largely sought to imitate or modify a traditional sit-up motion. One such example is found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,344,486 which is incorporated by this reference in its entirety. In these class of exercise apparatuses, a user is typically seated on the floor or on a bench in a reclining or semi-reclining position and contracts their abdominal muscles to bring their torso into a more upright position. Variations have been developed to target the various abdominal muscles such as the central abdominal muscles and oblique abdominal muscles.

However, conventional sit-up type apparatuses have been known to cause back and neck strain in users and are often bulky and difficult to store when not in use.

Another category of exercise apparatuses targeting the abdominal muscles includes apparatuses for controlling a twisting motion of a user's torso about their hips. One such example is found in U.S. Pat. No. 2,256,001 which is incorporated by this reference in its entirety. This type of apparatus typically includes a rotatable element configured to contact a user's feet or shoulders. The rotatable element may also include means for adding resistance to a twisting motion.

However, like the sit-up type apparatuses, conventional twisting apparatuses are also typically large and difficult to store. In addition, twisting type apparatuses have conventionally placed a user in a standing position which may cause discomfort or may not be suited to some users.

Thus, there remains a need for an exercise apparatus configured to target the abdominal muscles while maintaining a user's comfort and at the same time being easy to store.

SUMMARY

This disclosure provides exercise apparatuses and methods for using the same. The exercise apparatuses are targeted at the abdominal muscles.

In an aspect, an exercise apparatus including a knee receiving unit comprises a stationary base having a bottom surface, a rigid platform rotatable about an axis relative to the stationary base. The knee receiving unit also includes one or more compliant members on a top surface of the rigid platform which include knee receiving portions.

In another aspect, the knee receiving portions are located on substantially diametrically opposite sides of the axis of rotation.

In yet another aspect, the knee receiving portions include a concavely shaped surface.

In still another aspect, the knee receiving portions include a longer dimension and a shorter dimension, the shorter dimension being oriented generally radially outward from the axis.

An exercise apparatus may further include one or more hand grip units having a bottom surface and a hand grip. The bottom surface of the hand grip unit may be oriented generally parallel to the bottom surface of the knee receiving unit.

In another aspect, the hand grip of the hand grip unit may include a hand grip bar spaced apart from the bottom surface and oriented generally parallel to the bottom surface.

An exemplary method for using an exercise apparatus of the type described herein includes the steps of positioning both knees on knee receiving portions of a compliant member positioned on a top surface of a rotatable rigid platform. The method further includes gripping a hand grip unit and rotating the rigid platform about an axis relative to a stationary base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above mentioned and other aspects, features and advantages can be more readily understood from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exercise apparatus including a knee receiving unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of an exercise apparatus including a knee receiving unit according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exercise apparatus including a knee receiving unit according to yet another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a hand grip unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exercise apparatuses and methods for using the same are described herein, with reference to examples and exemplary embodiments. Specific terminology is employed in describing examples and exemplary embodiments. However, the disclosure of this patent specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner.

In an exemplary embodiment, shown in FIG. 1, an exercise apparatus 10 includes a stationary base 12 having a bottom surface 14 and a rigid platform 16 positioned above the stationary base 12 and configured to be rotatable about an axis 18 relative to the base 12. On an upper surface 20 of the rigid platform 16, opposite the stationary base 12, at least one compliant member 22 is provided, the at least one compliant member 22 including knee receiving portions 24. The knee receiving portions 24 may be located at positions diametrically opposite each other about the axis of rotation 18.

In one example, the stationary base 12 may be fabricated from plastic in an injection molding or thermoforming process. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the stationary base 12 has a circular shape, although it will be appreciated that any shape may be used. The stationary base 12 may optionally be provided with a friction enhancing element 26 configured to grip a floor surface. Examples of friction enhancing elements include rubber or foam pads, a sandpaper-like floor contact material, spikes, etc. Other examples of friction enhancing elements include portions of the stationary base 12 or other components which include roughened or textured surfaces molded or cast using a mold with a textured or roughened surface.

The axis of rotation 18 of the rigid platform 16 relative to the stationary base 12 may be located anywhere within the stationary base 12 and may be oriented perpendicular to the bottom surface 14 of the stationary base, or may be inclined at an angle relative to the bottom surface 14. This axis of rotation 18 of the rigid platform 16 may be defined by any rotational bearing element or configuration of elements included as a separate component or as a part of the stationary base 12 and/or rigid platform 16.

In one example, shown in FIG. 2, the stationary base 12 and rigid platform 16 includes two raceways 28 configured to accept and guide ball bearings 30 in a circular track concentric to the axis of rotation 18, although one or more raceways 28 may be implemented in alternate embodiments. The ball bearings 30 are preferably contained within one or more cages 32 configured to hold the ball bearings 30 spaced apart around the circumference of the raceways 28. A cylindrical boss 34 is provided at the center of the stationary base 12 and a bore 36 is provided on the rigid platform 16 such that the bore 36 and boss 34 rotationally connect. In this embodiment, a user's weight is born purely by the ball bearings 30 while the axis of rotation 18 is maintained and defined by the physical interaction between the boss 34 and bore 36. In the embodiments, the boss 34 and bore 36 can be provided on the stationary base 12 and rigid platform 16, respectively, or vice versa. Similarly, other examples of axial alignment and weight bearing elements are well known in the art and may be freely interchanged with the exemplary ones described while maintaining the spirit of the present invention.

The rigid platform 16, like the stationary base 12, may be fabricated from plastic in an injection molding or thermoforming process. As mentioned above, the rigid platform 16 is configured to rotate about the stationary base 12 about an axis 18 which may or may not be defined by an element of the rigid platform 16.

As used herein, the term rigid is generally used, in describing the rigid platform 16, to describe the relative modulus of elasticity between the rigid platform 16 and the compliant member or members 22 provided on an upper surface 20 of the rigid platform 16. Likewise, the term compliant is generally used, in describing the compliant member or members 22, to describe the relative difference in the modulus of elasticity between the compliant member or members 22 and the rigid platform 16. In other words, the rigid platform 16 is constructed of a material selected to be stiffer than a material used to construct the compliant member or members 22. Thus, it will be understood that the rigid platform 16 need not be constructed of a material that is unbendable, nor do the compliant member or members 22 need to be constructed of a plush or easily deformed material.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the rigid platform 16 is configured in a circular shape similar in overall size and shape to the stationary base 12. However, other shapes may be used for the rigid platform 16 and the shape of the rigid platform 16 need not share any relation to the shape of the stationary base 12.

One or more compliant members 22 are provided on a top surface 20 of the rigid platform 16. The compliant members 22 may be adhered or otherwise fixed to the rigid platform 16, may be detachably fixed to or merely laid on top of the rigid platform 16, or may be formed together, such as in a co-molding process, for example. As discussed above, the compliant members 22 are softer than the rigid platform 16.

The compliant member or members 22 include knee receiving portions 24. Knee receiving portions 24 may be defined by surface topography, graphic markings, an outer boundary of the compliant members, etc. Alternatively, or in addition, the knee receiving portions 24 may not be defined by any visual cues and may instead be chosen at the discretion of the user. Thus, the compliant member or members 22 may include one or more visually identifiable knee receiving portions 24 or may include an infinite number of knee receiving portions 24.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the exercise apparatus 10 includes two compliant members 22 on the top surface 20 of the rigid platform 16. Each compliant member 22 shown includes a knee receiving portion 24 defined by a concavely shaped surface, illustrated with dashed contour lines 38 and 40. In the case that a knee receiving portion 24 is defined by a visual cue, such as a contrasting graphic mark or a surface topography change, such as the concavely shaped surface shown in FIG. 1, the knee receiving portion 24 may be defined with a longer dimension and a shorter dimension such that the shorter dimension is oriented generally radially outward from the axis of rotation 18. For example, in FIG. 1, the longer dimension of the compliant member 22 is parallel to the dashed contour line 38 and the shorter dimension is parallel to the dashed contour line 40. In addition, the knee receiving portions 24 may be located on substantially diametrically opposite sides of the axis of rotation 18.

In addition, the compliant members 22 may also comprise a flat surface portion 42 adjacent to the knee receiving portion 24, as shown in FIG. 1. The flat surface portion 42 may be configured to accept a user's shin or thigh, for example, depending on a position of the user.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, the exercise apparatus 10 includes a single compliant member 22 having an infinite number of user definable knee receiving portions 24.

In addition to the exercise apparatus 10 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, referred to hereinafter as a knee receiving unit, an exercise apparatus for exercising the abdominal muscles may also include one or more hand grip units 44 separate from the knee receiving unit 10. An exemplary hand grip unit 44 is shown in FIG. 4. The hand grip unit 44 includes a bottom surface 46 and a hand grip 48.

The bottom surface 46, like the bottom surface 14 of the knee receiving unit 10, may be provided with a friction enhancing element 50 of the type described above. Generally, the bottom surface 46 of the hand grip unit 44 is configured to be generally parallel to the bottom surface 14 of the knee receiving unit 10.

The hand grip 48 may be as simple as a top surface of the hand grip unit 46 on an opposite side of the hand grip unit 44 from the bottom surface 46. As another example, the hand grip 48 may include a hand grip bar 52 spaced apart from the bottom surface 46 and parallel to the bottom surface 46. The hand grip 48 may include a friction enhancing element such as a rubberized material or textured surface. The hand grip 48 may also include a compliant member on at least a weight bearing portion of the hand grip 48.

In one embodiment, an exercise apparatus includes two hand grip units 44 and a knee receiving unit 10.

In a method for using an exercise apparatus including a knee receiving unit 10 and a hand grip unit 44, a user places both knees on respective knee receiving portions 24 of one or more compliant members 22 of the knee receiving unit 10. The user grips at least one hand grip unit 44 with the bottom surface 46 of the hand grip unit 44 generally parallel to the bottom surface 14 of the knee receiving unit 10. The user, with their knees placed on the knee receiving unit 10, rotates the rigid platform 16 of the knee receiving unit 10 about the rotational axis 18 relative to the stationary base 12 by a twisting motion of the user's torso while keeping the hand grip unit 44 stationary, which will cause the user's abdominal muscles to expand and contract.

In addition, the embodiments and examples above are illustrative, and many variations can be introduced on them without departing from the spirit of the disclosure or from the scope of the appended claims. For example, elements and/or features of different illustrative and exemplary embodiments herein may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of this disclosure. 

1. An exercise apparatus comprising: a stationary base having a bottom surface, a rigid platform which rotates above the stationary base about an axis; at least one compliant member on an upper surface of the rigid platform, the at least one compliant member including knee receiving portions located on substantially diametrically opposite sides of the axis.
 2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the exercise apparatus includes two compliant members, each compliant member including one of the knee receiving portions.
 3. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the knee receiving portions of at least one compliant member includes a concavely shaped surface.
 4. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein a knee receiving portion of at least one of the at least one compliant members includes a concavely shaped surface.
 5. The exercise apparatus of claim 3 wherein the concavely shaped surface has a depth, a shorter dimension and a longer dimension and is configured such that the shorter dimension is oriented generally radially outward from the axis.
 6. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of the stationary base includes a friction enhancing element configured to grip a floor surface.
 7. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one knee receiving position is indicated by a contrasting graphic mark.
 8. An exercise apparatus comprising: at least one hand receiving unit including a bottom surface and a hand grip; and a knee receiving unit separate from the at least one hand receiving unit including: a stationary base having a bottom surface generally parallel to the bottom surface of the at least one hand receiving unit, a rigid platform rotationally coupled above the stationary base about an axis, at least one compliant member on an upper surface of the rigid platform, the at least one compliant member including knee receiving portions.
 9. The exercise apparatus of claim 8, wherein the knee receiving portions of the knee receiving unit are located on substantially diametrically opposite sides of the axis.
 10. The exercise apparatus of claim 8, wherein the exercise apparatus includes at least two hand receiving units.
 11. The exercise apparatus of claim 8, wherein the hand grip of the at least one hand receiving unit includes a hand grip bar spaced apart from and parallel to the base surface.
 12. The exercise apparatus of claim 8, wherein at least one of the bottom surface of the hand grip unit and the bottom surface of the knee receiving unit includes a friction enhancing element configured to grip a floor surface.
 13. A method for exercising including the steps of: placing both knees on a platform of a knee receiving unit, the platform being rotatable about a vertical axis of a stationary base; gripping at least one hand grip unit separate from the knee receiving unit and having a bottom surface generally parallel to a bottom surface of the stationary base of the knee receiving unit; and rotating the platform of the knee receiving unit with both knees in tandem about the vertical axis of the stationary base while keeping the at least one hand grip unit stationary.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the knees are placed on the platform of the knee receiving unit at positions located on substantially diametrically opposite sides of the axis. 